Muffler and ventilator system



Sept. 20, 1938. .1. s. FLuoR. JR., ET Al.

MUFFLER AND VENTILATOR SYSTEM Filed May 4. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l I l l lI I '1l "sept 20, 1938. J. s. r-'Luola` JR., ET A1. 2,130,335l

MUFFLER AND VENTILATOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1956Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUFFLER ANDVENTILATOR SYSTEM Application May 4, 1938, Serial N0. 77.81%

claims.

This invention has to do with air cooled mumer and ventilator systemsfor stationary engine plants, for example, natural gas compressor plantsthat usually operate a battery of heavy duty en- Eines. More specically,the invention relates to a unit system for cooling the engine exhaustpipe by air circulation and for Ventilating the engine room by drawingwarm air from the room atmosphere into the air stream being circulatedto cool the exhaust pipe.

In stationary engine plants of the type to which the invention isparticularly adaptable, the engine exhaust gases are discharged throughan exhaust pipe connecting with a muiller outside the engine room, andwhere, as in the present system,

the exhaust pipe and (optionally) the muiiler are air cooled, theseparts are iacketed by a conduit through which a stream of air passes inheat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe and mumer. Thecirculation of cooling air through the conduit may conveniently beinduced by extending the conduit beyond the discharge end of the mufilerin a manner such that the combustion gases being discharged at highvelocity from the muilier, draw a rapid ilow of cooling air through theconduit.

While in certain broad aspects oi' the invention, the exhaust pipe andmuiller cooling air may be taken either from the interior of the engineroom or from the outside atmosphere, we preferably draw the air from theoutside because of its average lower temperature. Exhaust pipe andmuiiler cooling systems in which the air is drawn from the outsideatmosphere into the exhaust pipe surrounding conduit within the room andis then discharged at the outside with the exhaust gases, are describedand broadly claimed in Letters Patent No. 1,966,620 granted to John S.Fluor, Jr., July 17, 1934, on Muiller. In accordance with the presentinvention, we provide within the engine room an inlet through which warmair is drawn from the room into the air stream being circulated throughthe exhaust pipe jacket. Preferably this air jacket inlet is located atan elevated position within the room close to the room ceiling, so thatthe heated air in the room atmosphere will continuously be removed as itrises to the top of the room. Also, we preferably provide an adjustableairV valve for controlling the ow of warm air from the room. By means ofthe valve, the warm air exhaust from the room may be reduced or entirelyclosed of! in the winter, when more heat is needed for the room, whilein the summer the valve may be open to the extent of allowing asuillciently rapid exhaust ot air to keep the room temperature as low aspossible.

All the various features and objects of the invention, together withcertain typical and preferred forms thereof, will be fully understoodfrom the following detailed description. Throughout the description,reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a general and partly diagrammatic view showing one form of theinvention embodied in an air jacketed exhaust pipe and muiiier assemblyextending through the rooi' of the engine room;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged and partly sectional view showing certain parts ofthe exhaust pipe and air jacket assembly of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line I--I oi' Fig. 2, taken through the airvalve: and

Figs. 4 and 5 are general views of the type of Fig. 1, showingvariational forms of the invention.

In Fig. 1 we have shown within the engine room ill, a diagrammaticallyillustrated internal combustion engine i l of the overhead exhaust type.'I'he exhaust outlet, indicated at i2, is connected by anges Il with anexhaust pipe il extending vertically through an opening I! in the roofor room ceiling I6, the upper end of the exhaust pipe being connected byilanges I'i with a suitable muiiier I8. 'I'he particularities of themudier construction comprise no part of the invention; hence the muiiierhas been shown in elevation with the understanding that any suitabletype may be used. In certain broad aspects o! the invention, the exhaustpipe may be regarded as inclusive ot muilier, although for conveniencein description the two are referred to individually.

The exhaust pipe and muilier are surrounded by a conduit, generallyindicated at I9, that comprises a lower section 20 having an air inlet2| at its bottom end, a irusto-conical portion 2! connecting with anenlarged diameter section 23 surrounding the muiiier Il, and an outletpipe Il. The muiller outlet pipe 25 projects upwardly within a taperedthroat formed by portion 26 of the conduit, so that the exhaust gasesbeing discharged irom the muilier into pipe 24 induce an upward flow ofair between conduit il and the exhaust pipe and muiiier in thedirections indicated by the arrows. Air from the outside atmosphere istaken into the room for delivery to 50 the lower end of conduit section20, by way oi' a pipe 21 extending downwardly through the roof openingI5 to a point below the conduit inlet 2i, pipe 21 being supported on theexhaust pipe by having its lower end 28 welded or otherwise at- 55tached thereto at 29. The roof opening I5 is sealed off around pipe 21by e, sleeve 30, the base 3l of which is applied to the roof. A hood 32mounted at 33 on the conduit i9, extends downwardly about the topportion of pipe 21 that projects through the roof.

By virtue of the upwardly induced draft in the annular passage 34between conduit I9 and the exhaust pipe and muiller. air is drawn fromthe atmosphere upwardly within hood 92 and thence downwardly through theannular passage 35 between the conduit and pipe 21 into the lower end ofconduit section 2li, in the paths indicated by the arrows. The cool airthus passing in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe andmuilier serves materially to lower the temperature of the exhaust gases,and in so doing, to aid in deadening the explosion sounds by reason ofthe reduction in volume of the combustion gases.

A plurality of air inlets 31, see Fig. 3, are formed in pipe 21 for thepurpose of drawing warm air from the interior of the engine room I0,into the air stream being circulated about the exhaust pipe and muiller.The air inlet ports 31 preferably are located at an elevated point inthe room I0 somewhat close to the ceiling l5, so that the warmest airwill continually be exhausted from the room. We also provide suitablemeans for regulating the warm air exhaust through the pipe inlets 31,and have shown as a typical adjustable air controlled means, a sleevevalve 3B placed about pipe 21 and having openings 39 adapted to berotated into and out of registry with the pipe openings 31. 'I'he aircontrol valve 38 is supported on a flange 4ll and is made up of a pairof half sections 39a and 33h fastened together by bolts 4I. As will bereadily apparent, valve 33 may be adjusted by rotation about the pipe toregulate the air passing through the valve controlled openings into thepipe, and thereby to control the rate of warm air exhaust from the room.

In the event it is desired to further increase the rate of air exhaustfrom the room atmosphere over that possible by fully opening valve 3Band at the same time drawing in outside air through the upper open endof pipe 21, suitable provision may be made for restricting or entirelyclosing ofi' the supply of outside air. For example, hood 32 may beadjustabiy mounted by a split clamp ring 32a on pipe 20 so that torestrict or close off the entry of air to passage 35, the, hood may belowered to adjusted position. Its lowermost position, in which the hoodrests on the upper end of the air duct, is indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 shows a variational form of the invention as applied to anoverhead exhaust system in which the combustion gases are dischargedthrough a side wall of the room. Here the exhaust pipe 43 extendshorizontally at 44 through the side wall 45 of the room, and connects at46 with a vertically positioned muiiler 41. The exhaust pipe is jacketedby a conduit 4B having an air inlet at 49 within the room, and extendingthrough the wall 45 to connect at 50 with a stack 5| surrounding themuffler. Air is drawn from the outside atmosphere into the inlet end 49of conduit 49, through a pipe 52 surrounding the conduit and extendinginwardly through wall 45 of the room to a connection 53 at the engineexhaust outlet I2. As indicated by the arrows, the path of air owthrough the outer pipe. conduit and stack, is similar to that previouslydescribed with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the cool air entering pipe 52and thence being drawn into the inlet end 49 of conduit 48 and upwardlythrough the muilier stack, to be ilnally discharged with the exhaustgases. Warm air is drawn from the room through valve controlled ports ina pipe 54 connecting with pipe 52 and extending upwardly into the warmair atmosphere toward the roof of the room. Pipe 54 is closed at itsupper end and carries a suitable air valve 55, for example of the sametype previously described, which controls the withdrawal of the warmroom air into pipe 52.

In Fig. 5 we show another variational form of the invention similar incertain general respects to the previously described forms, except thatthe conduit surrounding the air intake pipe is replaced by anindependent pipe leading from the outside atmosphere. Here the airintake pipe 59 connecting at 51a with conduit 51 extends through wall 45of the room at a diierent location than the point to which the exhaustpipe and conduit lead through the room wall. Pipe 59 carries anadjustable air valve 60 which controls the withdrawal of the warm roomair into pipe 59 and passage 58 leading to the muffler stack. Anadjustable damper 6l Within the inlet end of pipe 59 provides a meansfor regulating the supply of outside cooling air to the air inlet 51a ofconduit 51 surrounding the exhaust pipe. As will be apparent, byselective adjustment of valve 60 and damper 6I, al1 the cooling air maybe taken either from inside or outside the room, or the cooling air maybe proportioned between the two sources.

In each of the illustrated forms of the invention, a considerable lengthoi exhaust pipe and surrounding conduit are shown to extend within theengine room. By such arrangement, the exhaust pipe may constitute aneffective heater for the room atmosphere during cold weather, providingthe rate of air withdrawal through the jacket be reduced to the pointwhere suicient heat will be transferred from the exhaust pipe throughthe jacket to the room atmosphere. In accordance with the invention, theair control valve or valves are capable of adjustment to maintain, undersuch conditions, the necessary regulation of the rate of air flow fromthe room and transference of heat through the exhaust pipe jacket, tokeep the room atmosphere at proper temperature for winter operation.

On the other hand, it is desirable for proper regulation during warmweather, that as much of the room air as possible be moved and that themaximum rate of air ow through the jacket be maintained to minimize heattransference from the exhaust pipe to the room atmosphere. Accordingly,by adjustment of the air control valve or valves the system may beregulated to maintain proper temperature conditions within the roomatmosphere and at the exhaust pipe, during summer as well as winter. Andat all times, the conditions are capable of still further control byreason of the ability to vary the relative proportions of inside andoutside air drawn into the jacket. 'Ihese features of the inventionhaveproven to be of particular importance and advantage in plants orinstallations at locations subject to wide seasonal temperaturevariations, for example in plants in the mid-continent or eastern .partsof the United States.

It will be understood that the drawings are to be regarded merely asillustrative of the invention in certain of its typical and preferredforms, and that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparture from the invention in its intended spirit and scope.

We claim:

1. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,an exhaust pipe and muilier connecting with said engine, said exhaustpipe extending continuously from the engine to a point of connectionwith the muiiler outside the room, a suihcient length oi said exhaustpipe extending within the room to provide a substantial source of heatfor the room atmosphere, a ventilating and exhaust cooling systemcomprising a conduit entirely surrounding a portion of said pipe withinsaid room directly beyond the engine and extending outside the room,said conduit having an air inlet within the room and being suiiicientlyclosely spaced about the exhaust pipe therein to provide for a highvelocity tlow of air through the conduit in heat transferring relationwith the exhaust pipe, said inlet and conduit being positioned so thatair drawn therethrough flows at a point in close proximity to the engineand in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of saidexhaust pipe within the room, means outside said room for inducing atlow of air from the room into the conduit through said inlet by and ata rate in accordance with the rate of exhaust gas discharge from theengine, and means for varying the rate of removal of room air into saidconduit independently of the rate of exhaust gas discharge, to reducethe heat transferred from the exhaust pipe to the room atmosphere duringwarm weather, and to increase the heat so transferred to the roomatmosphere during cold weather.

2. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,an exhaust pipe and mufiler connecting with said engine, said exhaustpipe extending continuously from the engine to a point of connectionwith the muiller outside the room, a suilicient length of said exhaustpipe extending within the room to provide a substantial source of heatfor the room atmosphere, a ventilating and exhaust cooling systemcomprising a conduit entirely surrounding a portion of said pipe withinsaid room directly beyond the engine and extending outside the room,said conduit having an air inlet within the room and being suillcientlyclosely spaced about the exhaust pipe therein to provide for a highvelocity ilow of air through the conduit in heat transferring relationwith the exhaust pipe, said inlet being positioned in close proximity tothe engine so that air drawn therethrough iiows in heat transferringrelation with a substantial length of the hotter portion of said exhaustpipe Within the room, means including a shell surrounding said muillerand connecting with said conduit for inducing a flow of air from theroom into the conduit through said inlet by and at a rate in accordancewith the rate of exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and acljustablemeans for opening and closing said inlet to regulate the rate of removalof room air into said conduit independently of the rate of exhaust gasdischarge, whereby the heat transferred from the exhaust pipe to theroom atmosphere may be reduced during warm weather and increased duringcold weather.

3. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,and an exhaust pipe and muiller connecting with said engine andextending to a point outside the room, a Ventilating and exhaust coolingsystem comprising a conduit surroundings, portion of said pipe withinsaid room and extending outside the room, said conduit having an airinlet within the room and being sutilciently closely spaced about theexhaust pipe therein to provide for a high velocity ow oi air throughthe conduit in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe, meansfor supplying air to said inlet from the atmosphere outside the room,said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough ilows in heattransferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipewithin the room, means inducing a tlow of air into said portion of theconduit within the room selectively from the atmospheres within oroutside said room and drawing the air through the conduit at highvelocity by the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means forvarying the rate oi' such induced air ilow into the conduitindependently of the rate of exhaust gas discharge. l

4. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,and an exhaust pipe and muiiier connecting with said engine andextending to a point outside the room; a Ventilating and exhaust coolingsystem comprising a conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe withinsaid room and extending outside the room,said conduit having an airinlet within the room and being sunlciently closely spaced about theexhaust pipe therein to provide for a high velocity iiow of air throughthe conduit in heat transferring relation with the exhaust pipe, meansfor supplying air to said inlet from the atmosphere outside the room,said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough iiows in heattransferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipewithin the room, means for drawing air into said portion of the conduitwithin the room from both the atmospheres within and outside said roomby virtue of the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means forvarying the relative proportions oi the room air and outside air drawninto the conduit.

5. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,and an exhaust pipe and muiller connecting with said engine andextending to a point outside the room, a Ventilating and exhaust coolingsystem comprising a conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe withinsaid room and extending outside the room, said conduit having an airinlet within the room in close proximity to the engine, means forsupplying air to said inlet from the atmosphere outside the room. saidinlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough flows in thedirection of the exhaust gas flow and in heat transferring relation witha substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, means fordrawing air into said portion of the conduit within the room from both.the atmospheres within and outside said room by virtue of the exhaustgas discharge from the engine, and means including a valve for varyingthe relative proportions of the room air and outside air drawn into theconduit.

6. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,an exhaust pipe and muilier connecting with said engine and extending toa point outside the room. a suilicient length of said exhaust pipeextending within the room to provide a substantial source of heat forthe room atmosphere, a Ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprisinga conduit directly surrounding a portion of said pipe within said roomand extending outside the room, said conduit having an air inlet inclose proximity to the engine and being suiliciently closely spacedabout the exhaust pipe inside the room to provide for a high velocityilow oi air in heat transferring relation with the hot portion oi' theexhaust pipe beyond the engine, a second conduit communicating with andsupplying air to said inlet from the atmosphere outside the room. saidinlet being positioned so that air drawn therethrough ows in heattransferring relation with a substantial length of said exhaust pipewithin the room, means for inducing a flow oi air from the room intosaid inlet by virtue of the exhaust gas discharge from the engine, andmeans for varying the rate of removal of room air through said inletindependently of the rate of exhaust gas discharge, to reduce the heattransferred from the exhaust pipe to the room-atmosphere during warmweather, and to increase the heat so transierred to the room atmosphereduring cold weather.

'7. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,and an exhaust pipe and mumer connecting with said engine and extendingto a point outside the room, a suilicient length of said exhaust pipeextendingswithin the room to provide a substantial source of heat forthe room atmosphere, a Ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprisinga conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe within said room andextending outside the room, said conduit having an air inlet within theroom and being sufliciently closely spaced about the exhaust pipe insidethe room to provide for a high velocity now of air in heat transferringrelation with the exhaust pipe, said inlet being positioned so that airdrawn therethrough nows in heat transferring relation with CERTIFICATEPatent No. 2,150,585.

a substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, a secondconduit communicating with the room atmosphere and supplying air to theirst mentioned conduit from the atmosphere outside the room, means forinducing a flow of air from the room into said inlet by virtue of theexhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means including a valvecontrolling the admission of room air to the second mentioned conduitfor varying the relative proportions of room air and outside airsupplied to the rst mentioned conduit.

B. In an engine plant. walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,and an exhaust pipe and mumer connecting with said engine and extendingto a point outside the room; a ventilati ng and exhaust cooling systemcomprising a conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe within said roomand extending outside the room. said conduit having an air inlet withinthe room, said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethroughflows in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of saidexhaust pipe Within the room, a second conduit communicating with andsupplying air to said inlet from the exterior of the room, means forinducing a flow of air from the room into said inlet by the exhaust gasdischarge from the engine, and separate valves for varying the relativeproportions bf air supplied to the rst mentioned conduit through saidinlet and the second mentioned conduit.

JQHN S. FLUOR, Jn. PARK W. ASH.k

OF CORRECTION.

September 2,0, 1958.

JOHN S. FLUOR, JR., ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above mimbered patent requiring correction as follow: Page 5,first column, line 59, Claim 2, strike out the words "from the engine";

the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 154th day of November, A. D. 1958.

(Seal) Henry Van Aradale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

and that a high velocity ilow oi air in heat transferring relation withthe hot portion oi' the exhaust pipe beyond the engine, a second conduitcommunicating with and supplying air to said inlet from the atmosphereoutside the room. said inlet being positioned so that air drawntherethrough ows in heat transferring relation with a substantial lengthof said exhaust pipe within the room, means for inducing a flow oi airfrom the room into said inlet by virtue of the exhaust gas dischargefrom the engine, and means for varying the rate of removal of room airthrough said inlet independently of the rate of exhaust gas discharge,to reduce the heat transferred from the exhaust pipe to theroom-atmosphere during warm weather, and to increase the heat sotransierred to the room atmosphere during cold weather.

'7. In an engine plant, walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,and an exhaust pipe and mumer connecting with said engine and extendingto a point outside the room, a suilicient length of said exhaust pipeextendingswithin the room to provide a substantial source of heat forthe room atmosphere, a Ventilating and exhaust cooling system comprisinga conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe within said room andextending outside the room, said conduit having an air inlet within theroom and being sufliciently closely spaced about the exhaust pipe insidethe room to provide for a high velocity now of air in heat transferringrelation with the exhaust pipe, said inlet being positioned so that airdrawn therethrough nows in heat transferring relation with CERTIFICATEPatent No. 2,150,585.

a substantial length of said exhaust pipe within the room, a secondconduit communicating with the room atmosphere and supplying air to theirst mentioned conduit from the atmosphere outside the room, means forinducing a flow of air from the room into said inlet by virtue of theexhaust gas discharge from the engine, and means including a valvecontrolling the admission of room air to the second mentioned conduitfor varying the relative proportions of room air and outside airsupplied to the rst mentioned conduit.

B. In an engine plant. walls enclosing a room, an engine in said room,and an exhaust pipe and mumer connecting with said engine and extendingto a point outside the room; a ventilati ng and exhaust cooling systemcomprising a conduit surrounding a portion of said pipe within said roomand extending outside the room. said conduit having an air inlet withinthe room, said inlet being positioned so that air drawn therethroughflows in heat transferring relation with a substantial length of saidexhaust pipe Within the room, a second conduit communicating with andsupplying air to said inlet from the exterior of the room, means forinducing a flow of air from the room into said inlet by the exhaust gasdischarge from the engine, and separate valves for varying the relativeproportions bf air supplied to the rst mentioned conduit through saidinlet and the second mentioned conduit.

JQHN S. FLUOR, Jn. PARK W. ASH.k

OF CORRECTION.

September 2,0, 1958.

JOHN S. FLUOR, JR., ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above mimbered patent requiring correction as follow: Page 5,first column, line 59, Claim 2, strike out the words "from the engine";

the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 154th day of November, A. D. 1958.

(Seal) Henry Van Aradale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

and that

